| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
Preparing For An Earthquake In Canada
The path to preparedness…
Be Ready, Be Safe: Top Earthquake Preparedness Tips for Canadian Homeowners
In the run of a year, Canada experiences approximately 3,500 earthquakes. Unfortunately, earthquakes do not only damage property but take lives as well. Fortunately, there are some ways to prepare for such disasters. To help keep your home and family safe, here are tips for Canadian homeowners:
What to Do Before an Earthquake
1. Prepare an emergency kit.
To prepare for the worst, you should always have a disaster kit handy to deal with any situation. Your kit should include everything from water to copies of your health and identification cards. If you have any pets in the household, you should also prepare an emergency kit for them as well. Special consideration should also be given to the needs of family members with medical conditions or the elderly.
2. Come up with an emergency plan and practice it regularly.
To ensure that everyone knows what to do during an earthquake, it is essential that everyone in the household becomes familiar with safe spots and what to do if the worst should happen. Once you have a plan in place, practicing it regularly well help everyone (especially children) more effectively deal with a crisis. Ongoing practice of an emergency plan also makes the reaction to an emergency more of a natural response.
3. Secure your belongings.
To prepare for an earthquake, you should take the necessary steps to secure your belongings. For example, you should avoid placing heavy objects in high areas where they can fall down and cause injury. If you have pictures and mirrors on the wall, you should ensure that they are secured with strong hooks to prevent them from falling down as well. Appliances and large pieces of furniture should also be secured to avoid injury.
While securing your valuables, it is handy to take inventory as you go along. If you later need to make a claim, you will have the necessary details required for the process. Specialist companies like BrokerLink are ready to help you find insurance solutions for your particular needs.
Photo Credit: whoi.edu
What to Do During an Earthquake
1. Take cover.
Many valuable disaster resources, including the Pocket Guide to Emergencies, state for people to immediately drop, cover, and hold on as soon as the shaking starts. If you are near sturdy furniture such as tables, you should crawl under the piece and hold onto the legs. If you are not fortunate enough to be near sturdy furniture, you can press yourself along, or crouch down against, an interior wall. An interior doorway can also provide structural protection to occupants during an earthquake.
2. Stay away from glass objects and tall furniture.
During earthquakes, glass can easily shatter and furniture can fall over. To avoid injury, you should try to avoid staying near glass windows, furniture with glass panels, mirrors, bookshelves, and light fixtures.
What to Do After an Earthquake
1. Prepare for aftershocks.
After an earthquake, the area may be hit again by aftershocks (smaller earthquakes that follow large earthquakes). In some cases, the aftershocks may actually be larger than the actual earthquake, so it is very important that you still remain vigilant even after the initial disaster.
2. Evacuate your home if you feel that the structure is unsafe.
If your home’s integrity has been compromised or you suspect that there is gas leak, you should immediately evacuate the home.
3. Call 9-1-1.
Once you are able to, you should call 9-1-1 to report what happened and get the assistance you need. If you need assistance while in the home, you can place a “HELP” sign in your window to attract attention.
Experiencing an earthquake is sure to change the way you look at the world. Fortunately, by following these tips and being prepared, you can best protect your home and family.
About The Author
John Wilber is a retired weatherman and grandfather of seven. He now enjoys spending his time helping others be safer by posting his informative articles online.
www.thepreparedninja.com
twitter – @preparedninja
Source: http://www.thepreparedninja.com/preparing-for-an-earthquake-in-canada
